Being in the financial industry for the past 25 years, Jose H. Monroy Jr., CFP®, has worked for powerhouses such as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and UBS. In 2018, he took over the Edward Jones office in Scotch Plains. “It was originally opened by Steven F. Prato in 1994, and was one of the first Edward Jones offices in New Jersey,” he says. “I’m so grateful to Steve.” Jose became a limited partner at Edward Jones in 2023.
Edward Jones has a different business structure than its competitors which is what drew Jose to the firm. It’s a partnership that allows its financial advisors to work in a single advisor office alongside their branch office administrator in order to serve the clients in the communities in which they operate.
In this case, the branch office administrator is his wife, Ana Julia Gomes, with whom he has three children. “She joined me in this capacity here in the office in 2019,” says Jose.
As a financial advisor, he enjoys helping clients make the best decisions for financial health. “I have a new client with whom I've been working for a few months and helping her consolidate all of her financial matters,” he says. “Her words to me were, ‘No one has ever helped me in my life in the manner in which you have.’ I find this so rewarding.”
Growing up in Elizabeth in a non-English speaking household, Jose didn’t always picture himself in the wealth management industry. “I believe three things are important in becoming successful in whatever field you choose,” he says. “One is you have to believe in yourself; two is hard work; and three is the power of connections. Connections open doors and hard work gets you through the door.”
In order to foster these connections, he recommends asking senior personnel for assistance, and then letting your work shine so that it’ll create opportunities to meet the right people.
To design a smart financial plan for you and your family, reach out to Jose. He would love to assist you.
“I believe three things are important in becoming successful in whatever field you choose. One is you have to believe in yourself; two is hard work; and three is the power of connections. Connections open doors and hard work gets you through the door.”